Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble Read Free Page B

know yet. Jake? Take Jamal over to your house, get things up and running in the basement.”
    â€œNo problem. My parents are both at their offices.”
    â€œSweet. Mongo?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œYou and me are heading down to Skate Town to run a reconnaissance mission.”
    â€œWhat am I supposed to do?”
    â€œLook big and strong.”
    â€œOh. Okay. I can do that.”
    Riley glanced at his watch. “It’s two fifteen now. Let’s reconvene at Jake’s place at three thirty.”
    â€œWe must cause this heinous chicanery to cease!” said Jamal.
    Riley shrugged again. “Works for me.”
    Riley and Mongo hurried up the street, past the diner and Mister Guy’s Pet Supplies.
    â€œYou know,” said Mongo, “I didn’t think we’d be so busy this week, seeing how it’s the last week of school and all. I was kind of hoping we could spend our afternoons chilling up at Schuyler’s Pond. It’s so hot out already.”
    â€œWe’ll get there, big guy. But right now, we need to fight for truth, justice, and the American way.”
    â€œIsn’t Superman supposed to do that?”
    â€œYeah. But even Superman can’t be everywhere at once.”
    â€œTrue. Especially now. I hear he’s making a new movie.”
    Riley and Mongo reached Skate Town and stepped into the store.
    The walls were covered with shelves of rainbow-colored roller skates. Disco music was thumping out of ceiling speakers. A rotating mirror ball swirled tiny squares of reflected light around the room. It was like walking inside a pinball machine from 1979.
    â€œKeep the funk rollin’!” shouted Disco Dan, the shopkeeper. He was maybe seventeen and had to shout to be heard over the music: a woman singing about skating straight into somebody’s heart, which sounded kind of messy to Riley.
    â€œThat’s Daphne Champlain,” said Disco Dan, grooving to the beat.
    â€œWho?” said Riley.
    Disco Dan rhythmically (and repeatedly) pointed to an album cover hanging on the wall in a sparkling gold frame. The woman on the cover was an African American with long curly hair.
    â€œDaphne ‘The Roller Disco Queen’ Champlain.” He jabbed a finger toward the ceiling (over and over) while shouting, “Whoop! Whoop!”
    â€œWe need to ask you a few questions,” said Riley.
    â€œBe right with you, cats. Whoop whoop!”
    Riley turned to Mongo and raised one eyebrow.
    Mongo nodded.
    â€œWe need to ask our questions now !” boomed Mongo.
    Disco Dan lowered his dark-purple shades so he could see who was yelling at him. When he saw it was a guy the size of a refrigerator, his disco finger slid down to turn off the disco music.
    â€œDyn-o-mite. What’s happenin’, man?”
    â€œWe’re looking for Sara Paxton, Brooke Newton, and Kaylie Holland,” said Riley. “They’re all blond. Twelve years old. Kind of look like matching Barbie dolls?”
    â€œI can dig it. Three little ladies matching that description were in here a couple hours ago.”
    â€œWhat’d they want?” blurted Mongo.
    â€œTo check out my mondo cool moves. Whoop! Whoop!”
    â€œWhat else?”
    â€œSorry, little brother. Chicks that groovy? They are out of your league.”
    Riley looked to Mongo.
    Mongo stepped forward. Leaned in. Let Disco Dan smell his pizza breath.
    â€œWhat. Else?”
    Disco Dan shot up his hands. “The young ladies were also interested in a little righteous skate maintenance tip from yours truly.”
    â€œWhat did they want to know?” asked Riley.
    â€œHow they could loosen the front wheels so they could, you know, oil the ball bearings. I showed them how it’s done. Of course, the most important part is making sure you tighten up that axle nut when you put the wheels back on.”
    â€œHow come?”
    â€œYou don’t tighten that sucker right, the